SPARTANBURG LITTLE THEATRE INC

What SPARTANBURG LITTLE THEATRE INC does

Spartanburg Little Theatre Inc is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community theatre founded in 1945 and headquartered in Spartanburg, South Carolina, where it performs at the Chapman Cultural Center (since 2007). The organization operates a largely volunteer-driven model supplemented by a small full-time professional staff of approximately 11, presenting an annual season of six mainstage productions spanning classic and contemporary plays and musicals (Grease, Come From Away, Clue, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, etc.), alongside the parallel Spartanburg Youth Theatre program (founded 1973, second-oldest youth theatre in South Carolina), which stages six youth productions and educational classes/camps. Across 50 performances per season, the theatre serves more than 40,000 audience members, with the Youth Theatre having cumulatively reached approximately 300,000 young people since 1973.

The organization monetizes through a diversified nonprofit revenue stack: single-ticket sales ($22-$32 per ticket with group discounts), season subscriptions (Plus 6 at $105-$150 and Flex 5 at $85-$125), tiered corporate production sponsorships (Silver $2,500 through Platinum $10,000-$15,000), playbill advertising ($250-$1,600), a Donor's Circle annual giving program ($50-$5,000 tiers), and a Legacy Circle planned-giving program. Open auditions, community outreach via the SLT Cares initiative (inspired by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, partnering with local nonprofits), and 501(c)(3) tax-deductible contributions complete the operating model. Distribution is concentrated at the Chapman Cultural Center box office (in-person, phone, online via chapmanculturalcenter.org, and mail order) with marketing across the organization's website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X, and a Constant Contact mailing list.

The theatre holds the SC Theatre of Distinction Award from the South Carolina Theatre Association (2020), is governed by a ~25-member Board of Directors led by President Jon Garner with Executive Artistic Director Jay Coffman managing operations, and reports no technology product or AI capability as it is a performing arts organization rather than a software business.

Name

SPARTANBURG LITTLE THEATRE INC

Legal name

Spartanburg Little Theatre Inc

Website

https://spartanburglittletheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Spartanburg Little Theatre is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) community theatre in Spartanburg, SC, presenting six annual mainstage productions and operating the Spartanburg Youth Theatre. Founded in 1945, it serves 40,000+ audience members yearly through ticket sales, subscriptions, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Live Theatre

NAICS

Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110), Performing Arts Companies (7111)

akta.pro primary industry

Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Classical & Contemporary Theatre (Plays/Drama) (MPAGABAH), Musical Theatre (Non-Broadway/Fringe) (MPAGABAG), Children’s & Youth Theatre (MPAGABAE), Theatre Education, Training & Conservatories (MPAGABAN)

Keywords

• Community theatre productions
• Youth theatre education
• Live performing arts
• Theatre season subscriptions
• Nonprofit performing arts

Headquarters

HQ city

Spartanburg

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from single tickets and season tickets for mainstage productions. Single tickets range from $22-$32 per performance. Season ticket packages (Plus 6 and Flex 5) provide recurring subscription revenue.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that accepts donations through credit card (PayPal), check, stock gifts, DAF and QCD donations. Donor tiers range from $50 (Friend) to $5,000 (Celebrity). Legacy Circle giving program for current/former participants.
3. Production Sponsorships: Corporate sponsorship packages at Platinum ($10,000-$15,000 for full season), Gold ($5,000 per production), and Silver ($2,500 per production) levels. Includes advertising benefits, complimentary tickets, and recognition.
4. Playbill Advertising: Advertisement sales in production playbills reaching 40,000+ audience members across 50 performances. Ad sizes range from quarter page to full page, in color or black & white, priced from $250-$1,600.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Spartanburg Little Theatre is a nonprofit community theatre that produces live theatrical performances at the Chapman Cultural Center, including four Mainstage Productions per season and six Spartanburg Youth Theatre productions per year. It supports its programming through single and subscription ticket sales, charitable donations, corporate sponsorships, playbill advertising, and open community auditions.

Product overview

Spartanburg Little Theatre is a nonprofit community theater organization founded in 1945 that operates as a multi-faceted performing arts organization. The company offers a unified portfolio of live theatrical experiences centered around four annual Mainstage Productions featuring classic and contemporary plays and musicals, complemented by the Spartanburg Youth Theatre program which presents six youth productions annually. The organization generates revenue through season ticket subscriptions (Plus 6 and Flex 5 packages), production sponsorships at multiple tiers, playbill advertising, and charitable donations via the Donor's Circle and Legacy Circle programs. Additional programs include SLT Cares community outreach and open audition opportunities. The theatre operates from the Chapman Cultural Center, having relocated in 2007 after 50 years at the Camp Croft Playhouse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mainstage Productions
• Spartanburg Youth Theatre
• Season Tickets - Plus 6
• Season Tickets - Flex 5
• Production Sponsorship
• Playbill Advertising
• Donor's Circle
• Legacy Circle
• SLT Cares
• Open Auditions

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 40,000 audience members annually across 50 performances
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• SLT Cares Initiative PartnerscoreOthersSLT Cares is a community outreach initiative inspired by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. It connects Spartanburg Little Theatre with local nonprofit organizations including Piedmont Care, Hub City Animal Project, Children's Cancer Partners of the Carolinas, and others to raise awareness and funds for community causes. The initiative draws upon the generosity, talents, and resources of the Upstate theatre community.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Flat Rock Playhouse: Regional community theatre in Hendersonville, NC, producing a mainstage season of musicals and plays; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a longstanding nonprofit regional theater with subscription model and youth programming.
• Greenville Theatre: Greenville, SC's oldest performing arts organization, producing a season of plays and musicals with a youth theatre program; directly comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre in mission, scale, and regional South Carolina footprint.
• Warehouse Theatre: Greenville, SC-based community theatre producing contemporary plays and musicals; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a volunteer-supported Upstate South Carolina regional theatre with multi-tier sponsorship and donation programs.
• Trustus Theatre: Columbia, SC's professional regional theatre producing a season of plays, musicals, and new works; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a South Carolina-based nonprofit producing theatre with an active company of artists and subscription audience.
• Charleston Stage: Charleston, SC's largest professional theatre company producing a mainstage season and in-depth education programs; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a South Carolina nonprofit housing a youth theatre operation and offering subscription packages.
• Town Theatre: Columbia, SC's oldest community theatre, producing a season of musicals and plays with a volunteer-driven model; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a longstanding regional community theatre in South Carolina.
• South Carolina Children's Theatre: Greenville, SC-based theatre dedicated to youth productions and education; the most direct comparable to Spartanburg Youth Theatre (Spartanburg Little Theatre's youth arm) in size, mission, and regional Upstate positioning.
• Lee Street Theatre: Salisbury, NC-based community theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with a volunteer-driven model; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a regional nonprofit theatre with diversified revenue from tickets, sponsorships, and donations.
• Centre Stage: Greenville, SC community theatre producing a season of plays and musicals with active education programs; comparable to Spartanburg Little Theatre as a Upstate South Carolina regional theatre with overlapping audience demographics.

Others

• Chapman Cultural Center: The Spartanburg venue where Spartanburg Little Theatre performs and shares box-office operations; a primary ecosystem partner and host venue rather than a competitor, providing shared ticketing infrastructure and audience access.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/spartantheatre
• Facebookfacebook.com/Spartanburg-Little-Theatre-30773231870
• Instagraminstagram.com/spartanburglittletheatre

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SPARTANBURG LITTLE THEATRE INC